Re: Planks

: : In history class we are studying the
birth of the populist party and this incorporates the use of the phrase "plank
in the party platform." I am curious about the origin of the phrase. Anyone who
can shed some light on this is welcome to reply

: The Oxford English Dictionary
gives this as one (figurative) meaning of "plank":
: An item or article of
a political or other program. Orig. and chiefly U.S.
: [Quotations illustrating
this use:] They kin' o' slipt the planks frum out th' ole platform one by one.
: Every subject of the platform is spoken of as one of its planks;
thus we read of 'the slavery plank', 'the tariff plank'.
: Another
'plank' is the restriction of Chinese immigration.

This is the way I
always thought of a political party's "Plank":
A "plank" is any ONE of the
MANY stated principles or objectives comprising the political platform of a party
campaigning for election.

The "platform" of a political party consists of
a SERIES of principles and policies adopted by a political party or a candidate.
A wooden plank is a long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a board.

A wooden platform is something to stand on or to cling to for support and is comprised
of a series of wooden planks nailed or fastened together just like a political
platform is unified on various issues or "planks".